27
Jun 2015
By Barbara Elisse Najar July 9, 2012 Summer is here, and we’ve shed our coats. Dogs and cats don’t have that luxury, but their fur, which keeps them warm in winter, also protects them in the summer by preventing them from taking on too much heat. It’s a fine system until it gets too hot, at which point it can be overwhelmed, with potentially dire consequences.Dogs and cats are homeotherms, meaning they maintain a fairly constant body temperature of 101 to 102 degrees, according to James H. Jones, an expert in comparative animal exercise......
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12
Jun 2015
What You Must Know Before Going to Any Dog Park May 25, 2015 | 30,027 views | Disponible en Español By Dr. Becker If you’ve taken your canine companion to an off-leash dog park, you’ve probably noticed that some dogs and their owners seem pretty clueless about proper dog park decorum. Some dog guardians clearly don’t plan or prepare for a visit to an environment in which dozens of dogs who don’t know each other are running loose and engaging in a variety of canine behaviors, some of which are potentially dangerous. According to Dr. Wayne......
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26
May 2015
Dental care isn’t just for humans. Dogs and cats need it too. “Taking care of our pets’ teeth doesn’t only make them smell better but it contributes to a longer, healthier life,” Dr. Dan Carmichael, a veterinary dentist at Animal Medical Center in New York City, told CBS News. “Not only can dental problems cause pets to have oral pain and infection, but the bacteria from oral disease can spread through the bloodstream to the vital organs,” he explained. Carmichael treats a variety of dogs, cats and even Bronx Zoo animals. He......
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04
May 2015
Cats may prefer to use their eyes rather than follow their nose when it comes to finding the location of food, according to new research by leading animal behaviourists. Felines have a tremendous sense of smell and vision, but the new study by researchers at the University of Lincoln, UK, has for the first time investigated which sense they prefer to use under test conditions — and suggested sight may be more important than smell. A group of six cats were placed in a maze which had ‘decision’ points — and the......
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05
Apr 2015
Is YOUR pet rabbit happy? Mammals may be stressed by their hutch-mates and a lack of exercise, study claims Study by the University of Bristol shows rabbits needs are not always met Researchers surveyed 1,254 pet rabbit owners in England Found pets have irregular access to exercise at the wrong time of day While 60 per cent lived on their own, limiting their opportunity to be sociable, a quarter put up with unsuitable, feisty hutch-mates Just over 12 per cent had dental or eye problems, seen in previous studies Just under 60......
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12
Mar 2015
TAKE HEART FELINE enthusiasts. Your cat’s continued indifference toward her new Deluxe Scratch DJ Deck may be disappointing, but there is an object that’s pretty much guaranteed to pique her interest. That object, as the Internet has so thoroughly documented, is a box. Any box, really. Big boxes, small boxes, irregularly shaped boxes—it doesn’t matter. Place one on the ground, a chair, or a bookshelf and watch as Admiral Snuggles quickly commandeers it. What’s Up With That? Each week, we’ll explain the science behind a strange phenomenon that you may be wondering about, or......
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25
Feb 2015
Frequently Asked Questions about Trap, Neuter, Return What is a feral cat? Feral cat is a term that has been used to describe a homeless cat that is undomesticated. We consider “feral” to describe a particular behavior a cat expresses when it is not used to people or feels frightened. It is virtually impossible to differentiate whether a frightened cat was born without human contact, formerly had human contact and became un-socialized from living on its own or if it is simply frightened. For our purposes we choose to call these cats......
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07
Feb 2015
Marley, a Springer Spaniel, was always licking and chewing at her feet. Her owner, Lin, didn’t know what to do about it, but she knew it was driving her 3-year-old dog crazy (not to mention turning Marley’s snow-white feet dark burgundy). Lin decided to take her suffering spaniel to her veterinarian for some answers.Lin had guessed Marley chewed at her feet because they itched so much. Was Marley having a reaction to something she stepped in? Did she have bug bites? What Lin didn’t know until she saw her veterinarian was......
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12
Jan 2015
Experts consider puppyhood, particularly the first three to four months, the most important period of a dog’s life. In that short window, a dog’s experiences shape his opinions about what’s safe and what’s scary — opinions that can be hard to change later on. During puppyhood, your dog will: Learn how to get along with other dogs, if he has lots of positive interactions with them. A dog who misses out on these interactions — part of what trainers call socialization — can grow up to be fearful or aggressive around other canines. Learn how to be safe and......
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03
Jan 2015
It’s very common for dogs to become upset and frightened during loud thunder, lightning, and heavy rain or snow. Dogs are especially sensitive to changes in barometric pressure and can often sense a coming storm before you can and may begin to act strangely in the hours leading up to a major weather event. Despite the natural inclination to sit with your dog and speak soothingly in an effort to calm them down, this may actually reinforce their anxiety in the long run. Instead, try these techniques to help ease your dog’s......
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27
Oct 2014
Pets come in all shapes and sizes with their own unique quirks. While many furry friends are adopted as happy additions to loving families, there are some animals that are overlooked at shelters because of certain “less adoptable” traits. Senior pets, pets with special needs, adult cats and pit bull-type dogs don’t always receive the love that their counterparts do, and can take about four times longer to get adopted than the average pet, according to adoption database Petfinder.com. This year, “Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week,” first launched by Petfinder.com, is being held from Sept. 21-27 to show that every pet......
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30
Sep 2014
Bloat is a life-threatening emergency that affects dogs in the prime of life. The mortality rate for gastric volvulus approaches 50 percent. Early recognition and treatment are the keys to survival. Anatomy of Bloat Bloat actually refers to two conditions. The first is gastric dilatation,in which the stomach distends with gas and fluid. The second is volvulus, in which the distended stomach rotates on its long axis. The spleen is attached to the wall of the stomach, and therefore rotates with the stomach. Gastric dilatation may or may not be complicated by volvulus. If volvulus......
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18
Aug 2014
A heartbreaking case at an animal hospital in North Melbourne, Australia offers another opportunity to warn pet owners about the dangers of feeding biologically-inappropriate diets to cats and dogs According to the Herald Sun, this is a clear-cut case of “people ‘forcing ideologies’ on their pets.” Kitten Fed Vegan Diet by Vegan Owners Nearly Dies at Animal Hospital The presumably vegan owners of a kitten brought the little guy into the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in July. The kitten was in very bad shape. “It was extremely weak and collapsed when it came in. It......
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27
Jul 2014
Senior Dogs: Common Behavior Changes Puppies have their behavior problems and older dogs have theirs. For older dogs, in many cases it is not that they do not understand the ‘rules,’ but that they may, for many reasons, be unable to follow them. SEPARATION ANXIETY Separation anxiety is one of the most common behavior problems seen in older dogs. A dog who has separation anxiety will become very anxious when he senses his owner is about to leave. When the owner does leave, the dog often becomes destructive, barks or howls,......
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14
Jul 2014
Cats will chew on plants. And, because they love to climb and explore, it is difficult to keep plants out of their reach. Therefore, if you are going to have plants in your house, or if you let your cat out in your yard, you need to be able to accurately identify the plants to which your cat will be exposed. When in doubt, however, it is best to remove the plant from your home. If a plant is poisonous, assume all parts of the plant are poisonous — though some parts......
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16
Jun 2014
LA-based company Pet Center, Inc. is voluntarily recalling their Lamb Crunchy’s dog treats due to Salmonella contamination. The treats were sold in California, Colorado, Washington, and Wisconsin. Colorado health authorities found the contamination during routine sampling of the all-natural treats. No illnesses have been reported. Symptoms of poisoning include lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, (bloody) diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. If you have handled and your pet has ingested these treats, please monitor yourself and your pets’ health closely. The company is encouraging consumers to return the treats to the store of......
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02
Jun 2014
Although it can be irksome for owners, being branded finicky could ultimately be a boon for cats — especially when it comes to ingesting potentially dangerous foods. “The main drivers of palatability for cats are protein and fat content, with moisture and texture being important too,” says Dr. Sally Perea, DVM, DACVN, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at P&G Pet Care in Ohio. Some “people food” is safe for cats in small amounts, but certain items — like raw fish and eggs — are definitely hazardous. Dr. Perea lists the top seven no-no foods for kitties:......
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26
May 2014
Nutrition Your bird’s diet is one of the most important considerations of its overall care. Adequate feeding plans may be developed from a wide variety of commonly available foods, or formulated diets specially prepared for birds by commercial companies may be offered. Ask your avian veterinarian for recommendations on feeding your bird. Environment Temperature: A healthy bird can tolerate temperatures that are comfortable to its owner. Sudden changes in temperature may be a potential threat to the sick bird. Humidity: Pet birds can adapt to a wide range of humidity levels, although birds native......
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28
Apr 2014
For dogs and other animal companions, toys are not a luxury, but a necessity. Toys help fight boredom in dogs left alone, and toys can even help prevent some problem behaviors from developing. Although cats can be pretty picky when it comes to enjoying particular toys—ignoring a $10 catnip mouse and marveling over a piece of crumpled newsprint—dogs are often more than willing to “play” with any object they can get their paws on. That means you’ll need to be particularly careful when monitoring your dog’s playtime to prevent any “unscheduled” activities. “Safe”......
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05
Apr 2014
Research comparing the brain function of dogs and humans found that dogs have “voice areas” in their brains located in the same region as humans. And in both species, this part of the brain is adept at understanding the subtleties between our voice tones that express our different emotions. “Dogs and humans share a similar social environment,” Attila Andics of MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group in Hungary said in a press release. “Our findings suggest that they also use similar brain mechanisms to process social information. This may support the successfulness of vocal......
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